Deej Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) Just re-read your posts and unless I'm being thick, the Defender was stolen in the morning and found later that same day with a new engine already? I'm aware that an engine swap can be done in a few hours if you know what you're doing, but it seems very unlikely it would have been completed before the police found them. So does every other feature of the Defender match with yours? Almost as if the police have made a mistake and it's actually someone else's. Edit: Didn't mean to sound negative, I do hope it's returned to you! Edited June 21, 2013 by Deej Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenrose80 Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 They stole it around 4am and we were called around 10.30pm to say they'd found it - they had it for over 12 hours. Everything else matches but the engine according to the police - he is going to email us photos later on apparently so we will know for sure then! According to the police they're a well known, organised car theft gang that they've been tracking for a while, so they do know what they're doing and had the means to alter them in the timeframe they had them. According to the police they strip some for parts and then they do some up and ship them to Ireland and Europe to sell them - they're still on remand which is a good thing Anyway - all speculative until we actually get to see it - hopefully will be over the next few days and i'll let you know when we find out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deej Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Sounds a bit more feasible in that case. They obviously have skill, just a shame it's not being put to good use. Maybe after being locked up for 10 years they should be forced to work for free as real mechanics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Re the insurance and losing the NCB not all companies would remove all of it. I know with NFU for instance you would only lose 2 years. (Ok cold comfort I know, but might be cheaper to cancel your existing policy and look for another) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenrose80 Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Ok, so had an email last night of the police and it turns out it was a new engine - a TD5 in one of the other land rovers, he got the paper worked mixed up - wasn't even looking at our 90!! He sent us a photo of ours - looked like ours however the serial numbers still don't match - so we still can't have it back yet and we will still have not seen the exterior so don't know about winch, snorkel etc etc... we will contact the insurance company again to ask for sure about NCB etc, there doesn't seem much point until it gets released from the police though and we know what's broken/missing... £200 to get it released from the police compound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 You may well be able to claim the £200 from your insurance as a cost due to theft... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I can't believe that the police are going to charge you for getting your own vehicle released-cheeky to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 A police 'secure compound' is usually a local garage. The 'Release fee' is usually their charge for storing the vehicle. Hopefully it's changed now, but round here there were cases of a vehicle being stolen, recovered then stolen again from the 'secure compound' which turned out to be a local garage which was less than 'secure' as it turned out! In this case it was the company who recovered the vehicle on behalf of the Police. It's understandable the Police do not want to pay the bill for the recovery / storage in a case like that. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Thanks for explaining that Si-never knew what the situation was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenrose80 Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Finally.... we are getting out 90 back. The serial number had been so expertly filed and replaced the police could not trace it, so we get to keep whatever engine is now in it... It's at the recovery garage now having the locks and steering fixed - hopefully we will have it back by the end of next week - so we'll be placing an order with X-eng this weekend - the other half threatening to stay awake all night, every night watching it until we have it secured isn't something I want to have to live through Thank you again for all your advice and support, much appreciated Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Glad you are getting it back Let your other half sleep in it till the X-Eng goodies arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'll be interested to find out what engine she's now got installed... might be worth getting that checked over to make sure its all as it should be.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'll be interested to find out what engine she's now got installed... might be worth getting that checked over to make sure its all as it should be.... I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same engine and they've just been trying to disguise it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenrose80 Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 Should be getting it back this week FINALLY!!! it's now at the garage getting looked over and sorted. Still have not been able to see it, thanks to the garage only being open mon-fri while we're both at work, and miles away! Just ordered a pedal lock, gear lock and column lock from x-eng! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Just ordered a pedal lock, gear lock and column lock from x-eng! You wont be disappointed, I've got those on my 90 and a gear stick clamp on the 110, all excellent products! Mav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenrose80 Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 Order from X-Eng arrived today - speedy!!! Got to see the 90 yesterday - they've damaged both doors - just wrenched them open, didn't bother breaking the locks. They cut through the crook lock we had on there, so that's still attached to the steering wheel, the steering column is broken. They basically hot wired it so all the electrics have been ripped apart and the binnacle panel is gone. They ripped the speakers out and the gears need fixing... and we need a new battery. So could have been better, could have been a lot worse! On the engine front, we're still not sure if it's ours or a different one - we only had it for 3 weeks when it got stolen so we didn't spend any time tinkering with the engine... oh well, it works and it's ours now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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